Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

City Spending May Slow Amid Coronavirus, Recession Fears

Ann Arbor’s virtual city council meeting discussed concerns about spending money on large city projects with an uncertain economic future. “I don’t want to see us putting good money on top of a dumpster fire.”

(TNS) — “It’s been fun to watch us as The Brady Bunch,” Council Member Zachary Ackerman remarked during the Ann Arbor City Council’s first virtual meeting during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Sitting in front of computers at home, council members each appeared in separate boxes on the screen during a Zoom video-conference meeting broadcast live Monday, April 6.

Over five hours, they moved through a full agenda, from approving $200,000 in emergency relief funds to buying new electric vehicles and taking action on sidewalk gap projects.

Various city staffers joined at different times, popping up in their own boxes on the screen, and residents called in by phone during public comment.

But it wasn’t exactly business as usual.

The ongoing virus outbreak that prevents council from meeting in person — along with fears of a prolonged recession — loomed over the meeting.

It came up in discussions throughout the night, such as whether it’s the right time to move forward with expensive projects or initiatives that require public engagement.

Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, said the latest financial projections she heard suggested “we are going into a recession that will probably be deeper than our Great Recession in 2008.”

She said that as she called for delaying approval of $436,752 in design costs for improvements on State Street and North University Avenue downtown.

Though a majority of council approved it, Griswold said she was uncomfortable committing to a project of that magnitude when there’s uncertainty about the city’s financial health and revenue streams, and basic needs for less-fortunate residents.

Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, also expressed some concerns, though he made a case for undertaking infrastructure projects during hard economic times.

“If our GDP contracts at 34 percent as some say it will, it’s technically a depression,” he said. “In either case, a major recession or a depression, these are the type of projects that governments should take on and should be doing during economic disparity.”

He expressed hopes there could be federal assistance for such projects in the months ahead.

Coronavirus has had a big impact on the way the city does business, said Tom Crawford, interim city administrator, expressing appreciation to city staff for adapting over the last month and keeping essential services running.

“Within a very short time, the city was able to close city hall, enable those workers whose jobs allowed them to work from home to do so, transition our operations to an essential-services-only operating model and institute practices supporting the latest health guidelines,” he said, predicting the city will be dealing with coronavirus for weeks to come.

The impact on the community has been widespread, he said, and the longer it lasts, the more challenging the recovery will be for residents, businesses and organizations.

“In the months ahead, we’ll start talking about the city’s financial status and budget. These months will be challenging as well,” he said. “But with shared sacrifice and thoughtful decision-making, I’m confident we’ll remain a strong organization.”

Mayor Christopher Taylor, who ran the meeting from his sunroom, noted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “stay home” order is still in place and residents should be staying home as much as possible to slow the spread of the virus.

As of Tuesday, April 7, there were 561 confirmed cases in Washtenaw County, including 160 hospitalizations, 12 deaths and 98 recoveries.

Taylor encouraged residents to do their grocery shopping once a week, rather than shopping daily. And when they go outside, he said, they should practice social distancing, and that means no play dates, no playgrounds and no team sports.

“The pandemic, it came to us unexpectedly, but that is not how it will leave us,” he said. “We know how to slow the virus. We know that the only way to overcome this is to commit to each other and to keep our distance.”

Taylor recognized the workers who are on the front lines of the crisis, such as grocery store clerks, pharmacists, health care workers, janitors and delivery workers.

They’re doing some of the most critical work in society right now and “we owe them deep gratitude and thanks and respect,” he said, calling them “the heroes of this crisis.”

Council members extended thanks to others for the roles they’re playing, including first responders.

Council Member Julie Grand, D-3rd Ward, thanked Ann Arbor school teachers “who are working so hard to try to help our children continue to learn.” She thanked the school district for “all of the food and technology distributions that they’ve done to make sure that equity is at the center of their efforts.”

Grand also acknowledged there have been significant charitable efforts in support of local businesses and residents, so there aren’t as many people falling through the cracks.

“I just want to acknowledge that there’s been incredible generosity,” she said.

Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, noted her husband has gotten involved with an initiative to make 3D-printed face shields to protect health care workers.

She held up a sign directing residents to visit Protect-MI.org to get involved.

“We have two 3D printers running in my house all day long, printing these,” she said, noting the effort was organized by Ann Arbor resident Kevin Leeser.

“There are so many people who are coming together,” she said. “Some of the equipment that they’re making is being flown across the country.”

Griswold said there’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes to respond to the crisis and city officials are working closely with county, state and federal officials.

“From the community’s perspective, it may not look like we’re doing that much, but I can tell you we are,” she said, encouraging residents to reach out if they have issues.

Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, said there’s been talk about ways the city can help provide relief.

“The things the city can’t do, we’re asking the state to do for us,” Hayner said, adding the city can’t freeze people’s rent or stop collecting property taxes.

“But I know what we can do. We can boost the amount of money that’s dedicated to the water relief fund,” he said of a program to provide utility bill financial assistance to those in need.

Hayner said the city also can waive certain city license fees and extend license application deadlines, and it’s done some of that.

He also wants to set aside space in parks for community food gardens.

“We can assist in funding needs in the community like the homeless shelter and we’re doing some of that,” Hayner said, adding the city also has made parking by the UM hospital free.

Hayner suggested the city also should provide demographic data on residents to organizations that can help them.

“We have heard from a lot of people about relief,” Ramlawi said, following up on Hayner’s remarks.

“I think it’s important for us in these times of crisis to stay in our lane, be there when help is asked for and we’re able to offer it. I think a lot of what’s being asked can only be done by greater government agencies, and it’s good to see some of that happening, but there’s still a dust storm out there.”

Ramlawi urged residents and business owners to be patient while city officials try to understand the ramifications and what problems needed addressing with limited city resources.

“Because I don’t want to see us putting good money on top of a dumpster fire,” he said.

Now that council has figured out how to hold virtual meetings, Hayner and Ramlawi both said they want to see the city’s boards and commissions, which have had meetings canceled the past month, get back to work.

“That’s where a lot of work gets done for the community,” Ramlawi said.

©2020 MLive.com, Walker, Mich. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Special Projects